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Even when the NDP becomes government in 2015
it's going to be tough for them to take the public stands we all want to see - for the reason I gave earlier, and echoed by Fidel.
ps: I wish I had voted NDP on May 2nd, but I didn't see the Orange Wave coming. No signs or posters anywhere, nothing. And the candidate didn't make any trips down here on the coast. I'm glad he won, even though as far I recall he didn't run any kind of a campaign.
Did anyone see the Stephen Lewis speech or the tribute to the youngsters? Both were a bit light (though enjoyable) which considering that Lewis usually reduces people to tears in his speeches may be a good thing.
Egypt opened up its border with Gaza but seems to have closed it up again.
Seems that the NDP supports aid to Gaza - just not the Flotillas because they don't want to be blamed for encouraging suicide (which is how they officially view the flotillas):
Statement on Gaza flotillas
June 9, 2011
In difficult situations of conflict, it is important to respect people's right to peaceful protest, and the protection and safety of all parties involved must be a priority.
Earlier this week, I met with the Israeli Ambassador and urged the government of Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza. I also indicated that it was not New Democrat policy to support the flotilla but reiterated New Democrats' concern for the safety of protesters and urged that the utmost caution be used.
New Democrats echo the United Nations' concerns about potential clashes between Israeli forces and the activists, and urge restraint on all sides. The NDP has consistently called for an end to the blockade of Gaza to alleviate the human suffering caused by the conflict. We also recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns with respect to the smuggling of weapons into Gaza and have called for effective international arrangements to address these concerns.
This position is in keeping with the UN Security Council resolution 1860, which called for "an immediate ceasefire in Gaza leading to a full Israeli withdrawal, unimpeded provision through Gaza of food, fuel and medical treatment, and intensified international arrangements to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling."
We continue to urge the Canadian government to play a balanced and constructive role in the Middle East.
http://www.ndp.ca/press/statement-on-gaza-flotillas
She's also known as "Wiebe".
I saw Lewis's speech. I was very disappointed he used his time to cheerlead the $2 million "humanitarian" window-dressing the NDP extracted for Libya as the price of signing on again with its bombing.
Yes, it was a private members' bill passed by the H of C; all the Conservatives voted against it. Now, of course, the Conservatives can kill such legislation in the House, without any help from the Senate.
Stephen Lewis praised the humanitarian window dressing on Libya? Well that's disappointing.
Sorry, I'm just not into the school of thought that destroying infrastructure with a plan to rebuild it is a good thing.
James Laxer's take on the death of democratic socialism, as announced by "unnamed officials" in the leadership of the NDP. Apparently European Socialist parties have yet to be informed.
http://blog.jameslaxer.com/
Debate on the Party Executive's resolution to purge the Party Constitution of any reference to democratic socialism is scheduled for Sunday morning. If passed, the NDP will be well on its way to becoming a pale imitation of the Liberal Party.
Not exactly. It was defeated in panel (not necessarily fairly) and drops back below the 9 resolutions that were either passed or tabled. Oddly enough if the constitution preamble had been defeated in panel it would still have been third because only two resolutions were passed and none tabled.
There does seem to be enough opposition to prevent it from getting a 2/3rds majority, if not a simple majority.
the problem is, the label "social democratic' no longer actually means anything and doesn't hold the party to anything. Any time a party leadership tries to distance the party from its core values, bad things happen.
I agree with what Hunky_Monkey says here.
Social Democrat has not been Socialist at least since World War I when the SPD supported Kaiser Bill instead of calling for the working class to boycott the war.
it's a sidebar but an interesting and important one. Not that I'm particularly interested in piling on the NDP when there seem to be so many willing to do that from a right wing perspective.
There has been a great deal of water under the bridge since but, in fact, the origin of the social democrat/communist split was precisely this issue of war and peace in World War One and preceded the Russian Revolution by some years. Social democrats have a very long history, especially in the imperialist countries, of being pro-war and pro-imperialism. So this pro-bombing (of Libya) is not a surprise by the Canadian social democratic party.
The international policy aside from trade is starting to show a rift in the party between those that identify with the democratic Socialist Caucus and those that are within the "establishment" or the social democrats. As a socialist it irked me that Broadbent would be open and say "social democrat and democratic socialist, I use them interchangeably". I am thinking don't you know the difference, one is the people control decide the direction of their social based economy; the other has nothing about economic system and is content with a regulated capitalism system and welfare state? Don't you realize how many of those allies from Socialist International are just as right wing as our Conservatives or central as our Liberals?
Based on politicalcompass.org in Canadian terms -
UK Labour is right wing, socialist in Green Party
Germany SPD right of centre, socialist and Marxist in Die Linke
Australian Labour very right wing, socialist in Green Party
French Socialist is left of centre (social democratic) as all socialist has in Le Party Guache
As for the stances on war and peace, it's like the establishment is afraid to offend Israel and Zionist. Anyone that spoke up against the current situation of gets slapped for it.
Heckuva job, Stevie.
NATO airstrike kills five more Libyan civilians
The NDP should get off the pot, come clean, and endorse a resolution supporting the empire's right to bomb n*****s.
They knew they didn't have the two thirds to change the preamble, so Brian Topp moved that the language be referred back to the executive to avoid a vote, and that carried on simple majority.
I like Topp, but that was kinda weasily. Better to just defeat it, IMO, and hear the membership.
And frankly stunned that the resolution rejecting outright merger talks with the Liberals was defeated.
Are you sure that's what the resolution said? I heard that the resolution was to shut out talks with Liberals, period - didn't hear the word 'merger' in there. Peter Stoffer said he had enjoyed working with several Liberals MPs over the years and gave a list which included Stephane Dion, and he paid tribute to Dion for having the courage to introduce the Green Shift. The camera panned to Dion, who smiled at the compliment. One of the speakers prior to Peter Stoffer invited Dion to join the NDP.
I don't see the text of the complete resolution, but from The Star:
I dunno; this just strikes me as an odd gesture of non-self-confidence, when the party should be projecting the opposite.
If the NDP & Libs had a limited non-compete agreement in the past election, Harper could have likely been defeated and Layton would be Prime Minister today.
Interesting that the NDP rank and file at the convention shot down an anti-merger resolution with the Liberals. That's something that can't be blamed on Jack Layton or Brad Lavigne, for once.
re: the "socialist" debate just before the vote: Pat Martin described "socialist" language as an anchor that was dragging down the good ship NDP; while the chair of the socialist caucus (Mississauga) described "socialism" as a rocket ship.
Whether one is in support of merger, cooperation or non-compete or not, there is no reason why the party should paint itself into a corner and shut a door permanently when it does not know what may happen in the future, and there is no compelling reason to do so.
They did right to turn down the resolution, especially since it was a resolution to not even discuss the matter. Sorry, but I am highly suspicious of the notion that one should not be allowed to even talk about something.
If that time ever comes I think people who comprise the party at that time will be mature enough to make that decision for themselves. Trying to lock down the future is nothing but pointless fearmongering.
That was not how I saw it and watching on CPAC. Topp suggested that something as important as the preamble needed to be looked at by NDP artists, musicians, poets and in our riding associations. He suggested it was pretty good and that the Labour council supported it and did not have problems with it but that it needed to be more inclusive, reflective of our membership, and have those who are gifted in language to rewrite it.
That it was important that NDP left the convention united. So I didn't find what he said weasily or anything but honest and reflective.
I thought Martin's use of the anchor metaphor was lame, if not idiotic. An anchor is supposed to prevent a ship from drifting into danger, or perhaps to stabilise a ship in heavy weather. On the other hand, "rocket ship" was over the top.
He probably meant it in the same context as "millstone".